By Racquel Porter
The judge presiding over the One Don Gang trial has signalled that if the evidence presented by the criminal network's banker and the alleged leader's personal driver is accepted, it would be sufficient to establish that Andre 'Blackman' Bryan was the leader of a criminal organisation.
The former gangster, during his testimony, gave detailed accounts of several murders and shootings, including some that were not covered in the now reduced-14 count indictment.
A witness who claimed he had never seen firsthand any of the murders or shootings, but at times heard the shots, testified that Mr. Bryan had ordered those killings and had assigned different roles to his cronies while ensuring that he was updated each step of the mission.
Justice Sykes pointed out on Thursday that although the evidence placed Mr. Bryan away from the scene of most of the incidents, it was clear that he was involved and played a lead role.
Except for two of the alleged murders, the judge said it appears Mr. Bryan had an integral role either as the conceptualiser or planner. The alleged don also appeared to have given directions or approvals for plans conceived by others.
The judge is, however, yet to make a ruling on whether he finds the evidence reliable and credible.
The judge, who is in week two of his summation of the evidence, has so far reviewed testimonies of former gangsters turned state witnesses, civilians and police officers.
Justice Sykes said he will on Friday begin the review of the secretly recorded conversations that were tendered into evidence.
The trial of Andre "Blackman" Bryan and 32 of his co-accused began in September 2021.
Five have since been freed on the basis of insufficient evidence.
